camel

noun

cam·​el ˈka-məl 

plural camels

1

: any of three large ruminant (see ruminant entry 1) mammals (genus Camelus) that have one or two large humps of stored fat on the back and are used as draft and saddle animals in desert regions especially of Africa and Asia:

a

: the one-humped camel (C. dromedarius) extant only as a domestic or feral animal : dromedary

b

: the 2-humped camels (C. bactrianus and C. ferus) of desert and steppe regions of northwestern China and southwestern Mongolia : bactrian camel

2

: a watertight structure used especially to lift submerged ships

3

: a light yellowish brown

4

a

: camel hair sense 2

"… So we're going to look for more luxury fabrics—cashmere, camel, alpaca and … lambswools."

—Paul Diamond

—usually used before another noun

a genuine camel coat

b

: leather made from the skin of a camel

They all have four-digit price tags and are crafted from luxe leathers like buffalo, calfskin and camel.

—Georgina Safe

—usually used before another noun

camel leather

Illustration of camel

• 1 dromedary
• 2 Bactrian camel

Examples of camel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Vertical touted the dramatic locations, 12,500 extras, and abundant horses and camels made available with substantial support from Neom, the massive Saudi development with sound stages and infrastructure created by the film’s backer MBC Studios. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2026

Ventilation aside, the springy print also tied the whole outfit together — her camel carryall and red flip-flops matched nicely with the bright blooms featured on her trousers. —Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026

The country draws tourists across the world to Marrakech's souks and Medina, camel treks in the Sahara Desert, historic cities like Fez and coastal destinations such as Essaouira, but new warnings highlight potential risks. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026

Plenty of elaborate battles scenes with all the extras, horses and camels that Saudi Arabian money can buy (and let’s face it, that’s a lot). —Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English & Anglo-French, from Latin camelus, from Greek kamēlos, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew gāmāl camel

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing camel

• Bactrian camel
• camel hair
• camel's hair
• camel toe
• the straw that breaks/broke the camel's back

Rhymes for camel

• hamel
• hamil
• mammal
• trammel
• enamel
• glutamyl

Kids Definition

camel

noun

cam·​el ˈkam-əl 

: either of two large cud-chewing mammals used for carrying burdens and for riding in desert regions especially of Africa and Asia:

a

: dromedary

b

: a two-humped camel of central Asia

called also Bactrian camel